Rebecca Watson on misogeny in Atheism - Atheist Nexus2016-12-10T03:57:21Zhttp://atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/rebecca-watson-on-misogeny-in-atheism?groupUrl=feministatheists&commentId=2182797%3AComment%3A2087450&groupId=2182797%3AGroup%3A35268&feed=yes&xn_auth=noIt's not about "online" or no…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-10-27:2182797:Comment:20877182012-10-27T04:56:28.018ZTNT666http://atheistnexus.org/profile/TNT
<p>It's not about "online" or not, it has to do with time and the convergence of various social phenomenons. Maybe gnu-atheism would never had occurred without the <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">internet</span>, usernet-net groups, which began in the 80s. And maybe it is here to stay.</p>
<p>But I think if you ask most people who were atheistic since before that era of "gnu-atheism" (ie I was an out atheist back in 1973), you'll find that geekyness was not an important component…</p>
<p>It's not about "online" or not, it has to do with time and the convergence of various social phenomenons. Maybe gnu-atheism would never had occurred without the <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">internet</span>, usernet-net groups, which began in the 80s. And maybe it is here to stay.</p>
<p>But I think if you ask most people who were atheistic since before that era of "gnu-atheism" (ie I was an out atheist back in 1973), you'll find that geekyness was not an important component of this movement. The four horsemen IMO were the second half of gnu-atheism.</p>
<p>So what made geeks come out as gnu-atheists and increase the ranks of atheists?</p>
<p>Well, it's about the same time geeks came out in society in general... nothing special, just the way society was changing, separately from faith. Humanism never used to be a serious component of atheist groups. Humanism has historically been more about Humanistic Christianity than secular Humanism. Now geekyness and Humanism were perfectly matched for each other. Both groups were well served by the WASP component of society... all they did was get rid of supernatural gods and replaced them with technological godliness. The rest has mostly stayed the same.</p>
<p>So Ruth, I don't remember seeing this in your profile, were you an <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>out</strong></span> atheist in the 70s, do you remember atheist conversations in the 70s, before this new wave?</p> I think geek-itude is here to…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-10-27:2182797:Comment:20877922012-10-27T04:08:33.670ZRuth Anthony-Gardnerhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/RuthAnthonyGardner
<p>I think geek-itude is here to stay, unless the internet collapses along with the rest of civilization from Climate Destabilization.</p>
<p>I never thought of the New Atheists crowd as especially geek, any more then other atheist folk I see online. Perhaps I missed something.</p>
<p>I think geek-itude is here to stay, unless the internet collapses along with the rest of civilization from Climate Destabilization.</p>
<p>I never thought of the New Atheists crowd as especially geek, any more then other atheist folk I see online. Perhaps I missed something.</p> I think the geeks have always…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-10-27:2182797:Comment:20877162012-10-27T04:03:12.612ZJoseph Phttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JosephP
<p>I think the geeks have always leaned more towards atheism. They just haven't been part of the atheism movement, because they're asocial geeks. Is it just the internet that made them join?</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on the subject? What made them join the movement in such numbers?</p>
<p>I think the geeks have always leaned more towards atheism. They just haven't been part of the atheism movement, because they're asocial geeks. Is it just the internet that made them join?</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on the subject? What made them join the movement in such numbers?</p> It's only recently that athei…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-10-27:2182797:Comment:20877802012-10-27T02:55:25.385ZTNT666http://atheistnexus.org/profile/TNT
<p>It's only recently that atheists have attracted the geek/nerd crowd, atheistic thought used to be the domain of philosophers and atheists and activists. But since "gnu-atheism", lead by Humanists, the atheist movement has taken on this geek persona... Personally, I wouldn't mind getting rid of this persona.</p>
<p>It's only recently that atheists have attracted the geek/nerd crowd, atheistic thought used to be the domain of philosophers and atheists and activists. But since "gnu-atheism", lead by Humanists, the atheist movement has taken on this geek persona... Personally, I wouldn't mind getting rid of this persona.</p> It's the trouble with civilis…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-10-27:2182797:Comment:20878492012-10-27T02:50:49.652ZTNT666http://atheistnexus.org/profile/TNT
<p>It's the trouble with civilisation. The human experience, outside of technological adventures, is restricted to a single lifespan. There is never anything acquired from society, everything we consider to be 'culture' is simply whatever sort of norms and moralities were taught to us in our formative years. This idea we delude ourselves that a battle won in a previous period can carry-over to future generations is just an illusion. We must fight for all causes, as each generation comes…</p>
<p>It's the trouble with civilisation. The human experience, outside of technological adventures, is restricted to a single lifespan. There is never anything acquired from society, everything we consider to be 'culture' is simply whatever sort of norms and moralities were taught to us in our formative years. This idea we delude ourselves that a battle won in a previous period can carry-over to future generations is just an illusion. We must fight for all causes, as each generation comes along.</p> Not an excuse, just an explan…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-10-26:2182797:Comment:20876282012-10-26T19:03:09.422ZJoseph Phttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JosephP
<p>Not an excuse, just an explanation.</p>
<p>And there are geeks in any social grouping. We just have a lot of online activity, in the atheist community, due to the small percentage of vocal atheists in most areas. Geeks feel more comfortable being active in an online forum and bring their social ineptitude and misogyny to the table.</p>
<p>Not an excuse, just an explanation.</p>
<p>And there are geeks in any social grouping. We just have a lot of online activity, in the atheist community, due to the small percentage of vocal atheists in most areas. Geeks feel more comfortable being active in an online forum and bring their social ineptitude and misogyny to the table.</p> Are we saying that Atheists w…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-10-26:2182797:Comment:20874762012-10-26T18:19:40.337ZJenn Wiffenhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JennWiffen
<p>Are we saying that Atheists which usually are made up of geeks/nerds who are known to be socially inept and lacking in experience are more apt to act like Asshats towards women like this? I feel that's a bit of a cop-out. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Are we saying that Atheists which usually are made up of geeks/nerds who are known to be socially inept and lacking in experience are more apt to act like Asshats towards women like this? I feel that's a bit of a cop-out. </p>
<p></p> One of the things that gets m…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-10-26:2182797:Comment:20874042012-10-26T17:22:46.487ZJoseph Phttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JosephP
<p>One of the things that gets me is that her original message wasn't even <em>really</em> feminist. You want more women to show up at your conventions? You want to have sex with them? Here's how you do it ... or at least here's how you don't not do it.</p>
<p>Only the assholes who resort to neuro-linguistic programming or the shit that The Pickup Artist pushes couldn't get this sort of message. These are the sorts of guys who need a remedial course in social interaction. Those who would…</p>
<p>One of the things that gets me is that her original message wasn't even <em>really</em> feminist. You want more women to show up at your conventions? You want to have sex with them? Here's how you do it ... or at least here's how you don't not do it.</p>
<p>Only the assholes who resort to neuro-linguistic programming or the shit that The Pickup Artist pushes couldn't get this sort of message. These are the sorts of guys who need a remedial course in social interaction. Those who would use those kinds gimmicks (like my ex-roommate) aren't even likely to benefit from them, even if they did work (I have serious doubts; I smell a huge pile of false association (such as powdered rhino horn giving you huge erections) and confirmation bias), since they'll likely creep the girls out and drive them off, once they go off-script and resume interacting as they would without the training.</p> Geez, why is this still an is…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-10-26:2182797:Comment:20873052012-10-26T16:28:53.640ZJenn Wiffenhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JennWiffen
<p>Geez, why is this still an issue and why does it seem to be getting worse, the US election really opens the light on it. In this age of Hillary Clinton and other strong empowered women this renewed vile attitude from men. Unfortunately the young girls and women coming up are making themselves look and act like stupid sluts. Look at the Halloween costumes for women and the various duck/cleavage shots thrown about on facebook.</p>
<p>Geez, why is this still an issue and why does it seem to be getting worse, the US election really opens the light on it. In this age of Hillary Clinton and other strong empowered women this renewed vile attitude from men. Unfortunately the young girls and women coming up are making themselves look and act like stupid sluts. Look at the Halloween costumes for women and the various duck/cleavage shots thrown about on facebook.</p> I agree with you Mary.
It is…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-10-26:2182797:Comment:20874502012-10-26T16:26:57.837ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
<p>I agree with you Mary.</p>
<p>It is good to get this issue out in the open.</p>
<p>I agree with you Mary.</p>
<p>It is good to get this issue out in the open.</p>